This true story of a little girl (name has been changed for her protection) who is sent to school in secret as a way to cope with the loss of her mother and father is inspiring.  This is a true story from when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan and women had most of their rights taken away, including the right to an education.  This is not a happy book, but rather a story of what you sometimes have to do to cope with the atrocities of life.  This book has been banned and challenged multiple times.  There are parents that think this book is too violent for their children to read. Iit is not! the most violent thing is Nasrenn’s uncle gets taken. Still other parents get upset because this book is not about the Christian lifestyle and dares to include an Islamic prayer and mention of the Koran.  How dare they!!  And how dare you not read this book.  This is the type of story we should be sharing with kids, both now and in the future so we do not repeat history, or so that others know, this was real.  These events were not made up!